Spool



July 16, 1940. H H WS M 2,208,456

SPOOL Filed March 10, 19:9

* 4; /8 ll EE- 0 I v M a at) Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SPOOL Hilyard C. Howsam, Chicago, 111., assignor to Hubbard Spool Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 10, 1939, Serial No. 260,890

3 Claims.

This invention relates to spools adapted particularly for holding material such as wire. The general object of the invention is to produce a strong and durable .spool of comparatively large capacity of tough and durable light metal such as aluminum.

An important feature of the invention is to form the spool body of two halves each comprising an enddisk or head with one half of a tubulan barrel structure integral therewith, together with means for rigidly clamping these halves together axially with the inner ends of the barrel halves abutting to form a closed invisible seam or joint.

Another important feature is to form the spool halves by die casting and beveling the inner ends of the tubular barrel halves slightly inwardly so that when the two halves are, forced together under axial pressure the metal at the beveled ends will become displaced or upset to entirely fill the gap in order to form a tight closed joint.

Another important featureis the provision of a sleeve of sheet metal, such as steel, within the spool halves for guiding them together and to form a backing for the barrel half ends while the halves are forced axially together to form the closed joint.

A further feature is the use of securing means such as screws between the heads for holding the halves together and to maintain the close joint.

The invention also embodies other features of construction and arrangement, and all the features are incorporated in the structure shown on the drawing, in which drawing Figure l is an end view of the spool;

. Figure 2 is a section on plane 11-11 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a section on plane I II-,-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary viewto more clearly show the joint between the halves and the manner of forming the same.

The spool body comprises the halves A and B. Each half comprises an end disk or head III with a tubular concentric extension ll forming one half of the barrel structure. The head and barrel half form part of an integral casting, such as a die casting, of tough light metal such as aluminum or some suitable alloy. Each half has a plurality of radially directed and longitudinally extending strengthening webs or ribs l2 between the barrel wall and the central hub I3,

through which hub is the passageway ll. Adjacent to the barrel wall, the ribs are enlarged to form bosses l5, four such bosses being shown spaced ninety degrees apart. Two of the bosses, diametrically opposite, have threaded bores l6 therethrough terminating short of the outer face of the end disk, while the, other bosses have smooth bores I1 extending entirely therethrough and through the end disk. when the spool halves are assembled, the threaded bores of one half are longitudinally opposite the smooth bores of the other half, so that screws l8 may be inserted through the smooth bores from the outside of v the corresponding head for threading engagement in the threaded bores of the other half for rigidly holding the spool halves together. The end disks or heads are preferably countersunk as indicated at I9 for receiving the screw heads so that these heads will be flush with or a distance inwardly of the plane of the outer surface of the heads. On their outer sides the heads may be countersunk to leave only comparatively narrow portions or ribs so as to cut down the contact surface of the spool heads with a support and to reduce the resistance, to rotation of the spool during unwinding thereof.

Referring to Figure 4, the spool halves, when formed, have the inner ends of the barrel portion slightly tapered inwardly from their outer edges as indicated at 2|. When the halves are then forced together axially, the metal at the beveled ends will become displaced or upset to fill the gap between the beveled faces so as to form a tight and closed joint or seam. In order to strengthen the barrel ends against distortion when the halves are brought together and also to hold them in alignment, a sleeve 22 of sheet metalsuch as steel is inserted, and the barrel ends are recessed as indicated at 23 to receive the sleeve. Before the halves are subjected to axial pressure to force them together, a die structure 24 is applied to intimately surround the barrel halves to prevent outward distortion thereof when the pressure is applied. When pressure is now applied to force the halves together, the metal adjacent to the beveled ends will be displaced or upset to iill the gap normally between the beveled faces so that a completely closed joint or seam will result which is practically'invisible. The backing ring or sleeve 22 will resist any inward distortion of the barrel ends under pressure and will be intimately clamped in-the recess 23 and will materially strengthen the finished spool.

Before release of the pressure which has forced the spool halves together to form the closed joint,

the screws l8 are applied and secured and will hold the halves securely together after release oi the pressure.

I have shown the spool provided with an arbor receiving tube 25. This tube may be a length of stock tubing or may be formed up from a blank of sheet metal, and at their inner ends the hubs ll of the spool halves have the annular recesses 26 for receiving the arbor tube ends. To hold the tube against rotational displacement and also that the tube may brace the spool against torslonal stresses, the hubs I! may be provided with tongues 21 engaging in the slots 28 provided in the ends of the tube. The arbor tube is inserted between the spool halves before they are forced together and when the screws are then applied and secured, the arbor tube will be securely held in position to form a continuation of the passageways ll through the hubs B for reception of arbors or spindles on which the spool is mounted for winding or unwinding.

I thus produce a strong, light and durable spool of comparatively large capacity on which the wire receiving surfaces are entirely free from for securing said halves together with the barrel portion ends intimately abutting with pressure engagement, said barrel portions adjacent their abutting ends being of increased internal diameter to cooperate to provide an annular recess of rectangular cross section, and a ring seated in said recess outside of said securing means to serve as a backing-for the reduced barrel ends and to take up the pressure of the securing means after the barrel portions have been brought thereby into intimate abutting engagement.

2. A spool comprising a body composed of integral halves exactly alike and each comprising a head and a tubular barrel portion extending therefrom, screws extending through each of said halves and having threaded engagement in the l other half for drawing said halvestogether for pressure abutting engagement of the inner ends of the barrel portions, said barrel portions at their inner ends being of increased internal diameter to cooperate 'to provide an annular recess, and a ring seated in said recess to provide a backing for the reduced ends of the barrel portions and to take up the pressure of said screws after said halves have been drawn thereby into intimate abutting engagement.

3. A spool comprising a body composed of integral halves exactly alike and-each comprising a head and a tubular barrel portion extending therefrom, screws extending through each of said halves and having threaded engagement in the other half for drawing said halves together for pressure abutting engagement of the inner ends of the barrel portions, said barrel portions at their inner ends being of increased internal diameter to cooperate to provide an annular recess, and a ring seated in said recess to provide a backing for the reduced ends of the barrel portions and to take up the pressure of said screws after said halves have been drawn thereby into intimate abutting engagement, said screws passing close to said rings for preventing distortion thereof.

' HILYARD C. HOWSAM. 

